Council taxfreeze getsno support

A failed last minute attempt to freeze council tax was the only bone of contention as East Ayrshire Council agreed to a consensus budget ahead of May’s local elections.

The majority of the £6m in cuts required to balance the books will come via changes to the way services are delivered.

At the same time the authority will invest £6m in a massive scheme creating 200 apprenticeships.

Rubbish Party Councillor Sally Cogley, together with newly independent Councillor Ian Grant, proposed that the suggested three per cent increase in council tax be scrapped and the £1.8m shortfall made using reserves.

Council Leader Douglas Reid countered that eating into reserves would end up creating problems for the likes of the school building programme.

Cllr Cogley and Grant failed to secure the support of any other councillors meaning a three percent increase was agreed.

The local authority’s budget of around £370m is £16m higher than 2021/22, but largely because of additional one-off covid related funding.

Budget highlights: Three per cent increase in council tax (Band D increase to £1,416.61) House, garage and lock-up rent levels to increase by 1.5 per cent. Fees and charges set by council to be held at 2020/21 levels. £6m to be found in savings and efficiencies (£2.07m relating to ‘workforce planning’ and £2.67m to be saved in health and social care. Service fees and charges would stay at current levels, other than those set nationally or by partner agencies.